Do you need another Dark Apostate past life, but sick of doing the same type of life as last time?
Try the Centered Purple Dragon Knight Big Hammer build!
This is a Strength-based clothy melee, intended for levelling 15-30 in low reapers.
Note: The build assumes you are rocking a +8 Supreme Tome and a 36 point build, but could still work as a first-lifer. To make it work: you need at least a 15 STR at level 2; and 13 DEX at level 1. To cast level 5 Cleric spells requires 15 Wisdom (wearing items and guild buffs can help reach this). You may need to sacrifice points from your Constitution or Charisma at character creation in order to meet these prerequisites.
Features:
The Build:
Starting stats: STR: 18, DEX: 13, CON: 17, INT: 8, WIS: 8, CHA: 10
Level up ability scores: STRENGTH ALL THE WAY!!
Feats and Classes:
Enhancements
31 points Kensai, 13 Dark Apostate, 25 Warpriest, 6 Stalwart Defender, 1 Henshin Mystic. (spend extra points where you want to)
Epic Destinys:
41 Flowers, 28 Fury, 14 Dreadnought
Sacrifice points from Fury or Dreadnought as you see fit (if you don't have the points).
Gear:
I don't have a specific gear combo to list here, but generally you want anything that increases your Strength, Hit chance/Damage, Doublestrike, critical hit/damage and other melee abilities. You will do a LOT of damage on hits of 19-20, so critical damage is important.
Grabbing as much PRR and Dodge as possible for defense will help.
To cast Cleric spells, you may need to slot a Diamond of Wisdom.
Part of the Family is a great set from level 15+ (most recommended). The Remodelling Renegade 3-piece set: is also good until you hit early epics (the Maul is highly recommended until level 21).
Stunning DCs are important for this build.
Evil / Light/Alignment spell power is important for your imbue. I used Crest of St. Markus and crafting on a Gem of Many Facets to get insightful Alignment spell power but a Shard of Vollun may works also (upgrade to epic when you hit 20).
Weapon:
Demolition Maul absolutely trucks.
Fury of the Flame is also a good alternative that is fairly easy to pick up from level 16-20 (it drops fairly often too).
Drow Maul of the Weapon Master is my pick to use in Epics. Generally you won't change this until level 29+. This weapon is unbound til' equip, so keep an eye on the auction house if you don't have it already.
Tactics:
Heroics:
Alternatives:
Try the Centered Purple Dragon Knight Big Hammer build!
This is a Strength-based clothy melee, intended for levelling 15-30 in low reapers.
Note: The build assumes you are rocking a +8 Supreme Tome and a 36 point build, but could still work as a first-lifer. To make it work: you need at least a 15 STR at level 2; and 13 DEX at level 1. To cast level 5 Cleric spells requires 15 Wisdom (wearing items and guild buffs can help reach this). You may need to sacrifice points from your Constitution or Charisma at character creation in order to meet these prerequisites.
Features:
- Charisma Trance
- Good amount of damage
- Dodge-a-licious
- Thiccc
The Build:
Starting stats: STR: 18, DEX: 13, CON: 17, INT: 8, WIS: 8, CHA: 10
Level up ability scores: STRENGTH ALL THE WAY!!
Feats and Classes:
| level | Class | Feat 1 | Feat 2 | Feat 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fighter | Dodge | Mobility | Weapon Focus: Bludgeoning Weapons |
| 2 | Fighter | Two Handed Fighting | ||
| 3 | Fighter | Stunning Blow | ||
| 4 | Fighter | Weapon Specialization: Bludgeoning | ||
| 5 | Monk | Spring Attack | ||
| 6 | Monk | Adept of Forms | Deflect Arrows (or Toughness) | |
| 7 | Fighter | |||
| 8 | Fighter | Whirlwind Attack | ||
| 9 | Fighter | Improved Two Handed Fighting | ||
| 10 | Fighter | Greater Weapon Focus: Bludgeoning | ||
| 11 | Cleric (Dark Apostate) | Favored by Silvanus | ||
| 12 | Cleric | Improved Critical: Bludgeoning | Domain of Destruction | |
| 13 | Cleric | |||
| 14 | Cleric | |||
| 15 | Cleric | Greater Two Handed Fighting | Improved Domain of Destruction | |
| 16 | Cleric | Blessing of Silvanus | ||
| 17 | Monk | Path of Inevitable Dominion | ||
| 18 | Cleric | Master of Forms | ||
| 19 | Cleric | |||
| 20 | Cleric | Greater Domain of Destruction | ||
| 21 | Overwhelming Critical | |||
| 22 | Perfect Two Handed Fighting | |||
| 23 | ||||
| 24 | Eerie Aim | |||
| 25 | Doublestrike | |||
| 26 | ||||
| 27 | Patience | |||
| 28 | Embodiment of Law | |||
| 29 | ||||
| 30 | Epic Damage Reduction | Scion of Arborea | ||
| 31 | Crush Weakness | |||
| 32 | ||||
| 33 | Bulwark of Defense | |||
| 34 | Titan's Blood |
Enhancements
31 points Kensai, 13 Dark Apostate, 25 Warpriest, 6 Stalwart Defender, 1 Henshin Mystic. (spend extra points where you want to)
Epic Destinys:
41 Flowers, 28 Fury, 14 Dreadnought
Sacrifice points from Fury or Dreadnought as you see fit (if you don't have the points).
Gear:
I don't have a specific gear combo to list here, but generally you want anything that increases your Strength, Hit chance/Damage, Doublestrike, critical hit/damage and other melee abilities. You will do a LOT of damage on hits of 19-20, so critical damage is important.
Grabbing as much PRR and Dodge as possible for defense will help.
To cast Cleric spells, you may need to slot a Diamond of Wisdom.
Part of the Family is a great set from level 15+ (most recommended). The Remodelling Renegade 3-piece set: is also good until you hit early epics (the Maul is highly recommended until level 21).
Stunning DCs are important for this build.
Evil / Light/Alignment spell power is important for your imbue. I used Crest of St. Markus and crafting on a Gem of Many Facets to get insightful Alignment spell power but a Shard of Vollun may works also (upgrade to epic when you hit 20).
Weapon:
Demolition Maul absolutely trucks.
Fury of the Flame is also a good alternative that is fairly easy to pick up from level 16-20 (it drops fairly often too).
Drow Maul of the Weapon Master is my pick to use in Epics. Generally you won't change this until level 29+. This weapon is unbound til' equip, so keep an eye on the auction house if you don't have it already.
Tactics:
Heroics:
- You will mostly rely on Whirlwind attack and a few of the Kensai strikes to deal damage. A couple of the Kensai attacks are fairly lack-luster, but they deal more damage than a normal strike would.
- Stunning Blow is great CC, use it often!
- Monk Stance: Fire Stance for the extra strength and crit Multi on 19-20s.
- Monk Finishers: FDF combo and the other debuffs you get are very handy. I suggest taking Dark philosophy instead of Light because you can heal yourself with cleric spells and it was just thematically cooler being a shadow. But take which philosophy you rather.
- Turn Undead in spicier fights to get more Melee Power. You don't have to successfully turn anything to get your domain bonuses.
- The Smite Foe attack from Warpriest gets an AOE heal w/ restoration. It was definitely handier than I thought it would be.
- Pick up Quick/Cutter in Fury. Until you reach the ability to Stun with Lotus Bloom, this is your go-to Epic Strike.
- You can pick up Rage in Fury for more Strength/Constitution here. If you took Destruction Domain, you can cast your cleric spells while raging (so no problem!).
Alternatives:
- If you are looking to have a better reflex save, get the first 2 cores in Ninja Spy to allow for Dex to hit/dmg and be dex based instead. Or choose Strength Domain to add your Strength mod to your reflex save.
- Become CHA based to make the most out of the Charisma trance in Warpriest. PDK can use CHA to hit/dmg for greatswords and bastard swords with only 3 points invested in their racial tree. Single Weapon Fighting Bastard Sword with Helm diety is also an option here (take slashing weapon feats instead).
Last edited: